Several funding resources are available at OSU, through the state of Oregon, and at a federal level for advancing promising research and technologies further towards commercialization. We recognize that technology commercialization is a pathway and early stage funding needs are very different from funding needs following company formation and beyond. Because of this, we’ve compiled a list of available funding opportunities that we call the “Funding Stack,” illustrating funding resources available at whatever stage of technology development you are at. Please contact Molly Arnold, Innovation Impact Catalyst, at [email protected] to learn more and to talk through your project and commercialization goals.

 

1. University Innovation Research Fund (UIRF) Matching Funds

  • STATUS: Available now
  • AMOUNT: $250,000 and above
  • PROJECT TYPE: The Fund can be used as match for federal proposals that require financial match for projects that will support innovation or commercialization of technology at the universities that has a direct or potential connection to economic development. Projects must require a match of at least $250,000 to access the Fund. The Fund is not to be used as match for basic research projects or other projects that do not have a direct or potential connection to economic development. The projects should align with priority industries, such as advanced manufacturing, high technology, outdoor gear and apparel, health care innovation, food and beverage, and forestry and wood products.
  • TYPE OF FUNDING: Grant matching
  • TIMING: Rolling applications
  • ELIGIBILITY: See link below
  • DETAILS: Available on the Research Office webpage here.

2. OSU Advantage Innovation Day Award

  • STATUS: Available once per term
  • AMOUNT: Up to $5,000 per project is awarded
  • PROJECT TYPE: Project scope must answer a commercial question in the faculty member’s research such as “with this proof, I can confirm that I have unique innovative technology” or “I can confirm which industry will be interested in the outcome of this research.”
  • TYPE OF FUNDING: Cost recoverable award
  • TIMING: Once per term in conjunction with OSU Advantage Innovation Days
  • ELIGIBILITY: Award recipients must be an OSU faculty member that attends two Innovation Day events in one term. See link below for more information.
  • DETAILS: Available on the Innovation Impact Innovation Day webpage here.

3. National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (NSF I-Corps) Site Funds Award

  • STATUS: Ongoing
  • AMOUNT: Up to $3,000 per project is awarded
  • PROJECT TYPE: Funds can be used to help transition technology into the marketplace.
  • TYPE OF FUNDING: Grants
  • TIMING: Ongoing
  • ELIGIBILITY: Recipient team must be an Accelerate client and have completed quality interviews. For more information on eligibility, talk with Karl Mundorff.
  • DETAILS: Talk to Karl Mundorff ([email protected]).  

4. Accelerator Innovation Development (AID) Funding*

  • STATUS: The next AID RFP will open in August for Fall Term 2022 project proposals
  • AMOUNT: Up to $15,000 per project is awarded
  • PROJECT TYPE: Funds may be used for customer discovery, customer validation, commercial feasibility studies, minimal prototype development costs, market research, and commercialization plan development.
  • TYPE OF FUNDING: Cost-recoverable award. See RFP for more information..
  • TIMING: The Request for Proposals is issued towards the end of each term. Proposals should describe projects that begin at the start of the next term.
  • ELIGIBILITY: The project must be managed by an OSU faculty member, at least one team member is required to participate in the term-long Accelerate program, and the project must be based on OSU-owned IP. Read the full RFP for more information.
  • DETAILS: The full RFP is available here.

5. National Science Foundation Innovation Corps National Program Award

  • STATUS: Application deadlines are rolling; available now
  • AMOUNT: $50,000
  • PROJECT TYPE: Funds are used to validate a technology-based product with respect to product-market-fit and can include travel to locations where customer interviews will take place. The major focus of the program is for the selected I-Corps teams to participate in the I-Corps Teams Curriculum. This curriculum typically includes an in-person Entrepreneurial Curriculum Immersion Kickoff, a weekly online curriculum, and an in-person Lessons Learned report-out. The team will be expected to spend significant time doing active customer discovery work, interviewing potential customers and potential partners.
  • TYPE OF FUNDING: Federal grant
  • TIMING: Ongoing  
  • ELIGIBILITY: See the full RFP linked below in the details section
  • DETAILS: The full RFP document is available here. Contact Karl Mundorff ([email protected]) for more information and if you are interested in applying.

6. UVDF Impact Fund*

  • STATUS: Applications solicited throughout the year. One to four projects funded per year.
  • AMOUNT: $30,000 - $75,000 typically awarded per project. Potential for over $75,000 awarded depending on circumstances and project need.
  • PROJECT TYPE: Facilitate development and commercialization of research inventions, tools, prototypes, software, digital content or other intellectual property (IP) created by OSU faculty, staff, and students that could benefit the people of Oregon.
  • TYPE OF FUNDING: UVDF Impact Funds can be an award to a faculty-led team developing OSU IP or an investment into a company with a license agreement in place for OSU IP.
  • TIMING: Currently applications are solicited on a rolling basis for 2021-2022. (Note that this is subject to change.)
  • ELIGIBILITY: Teams will be eligible for UVDF Impact funds if they have received AID Funding previously, completed the OSU Advantage Accelerate Program successfully, and were invited to apply for UVDF Impact funds by Accelerator staff.
  • DETAILS: Teams who are invited to apply will be asked to complete a short application form, a project description document, and a detailed budget spreadsheet.

7. Business Oregon SBIR/STTR Proposal Development Support Award (Phase 0 & 00)

  • STATUS: Currently on hold; should reopen soon
  • AMOUNT: Up to $5,000 per SBIR proposal submission is awarded
  • PROJECT TYPE: Because the SBIR/STTR programs are very competitive, Business Oregon provides Phase 0 and 00 grants to help companies prepare better applications to give them a better chance to receive federal funding. 
  • TYPE OF FUNDING: Grant funding
  • TIMING: Proposals must be submitted at least 30 days before the SBIR/STTR proposal is due.
  • ELIGIBILITY: Must be an Oregon company with more than 50% of employees in Oregon.
  • DETAILS: On the Business Oregon website here.

8. Federal SBIR/STTR Grants

  • STATUS: Ongoing. See each agency solicitation.
  • AMOUNT: Awards vary per federal agency and Phase I or II, and can be $50,000 to $1,000,000 and more.
  • PROJECT TYPE:
  • The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization.
  • The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) is another program that expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development (R&D) arena. Central to the program is expansion of the public/private sector partnership to include the joint venture opportunities for small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The unique feature of the STTR program is the requirement for the small business to formally collaborate with a research institution in Phase I and Phase II. STTR's most important role is to bridge the gap between performance of basic science and commercialization of resulting innovations.
  • TYPE OF FUNDING: Grant funding
  • TIMING: Differs per agency.
  • ELIGIBILITY: Must be a small business and/or part of a research institution collaborating with a small business. See the SBIR/STTR website for more information.
  • DETAILS: https://www.sbir.gov/ . Contact Katie Pettinger at [email protected] for more information.

9. Business Oregon SBIR/STTR Matching Grants

  • STATUS: Request for Proposals is currently closed but will reopen in upcoming months.
  • AMOUNT: Up to $100,000
  • PROJECT TYPE: Federal SBIR/STTR funding is a great source for early-stage companies, but it is not enough to help a company stand on its own. Business Oregon's matching grants provide funds to help fill gaps in what the federal grant will cover and assist businesses build on projects and advance new technologies. Matching grants are generally up to $50,000 for companies with a Phase I federal grant award and up to $100,000 for companies with a Phase II federal award.
  • TYPE OF FUNDING: Grant funding
  • TIMING: Available periodically through the year
  • ELIGIBILITY: Must have a received a recent Phase I or Phase II federal grant.
  • DETAILS: On the Business Oregon website here.

10. Angel Investment and Early Stage Venture Capital

Depending on your capital needs and company stage, the OSU Advantage Accelerator can connect you with various angel investors and early stage venture capital firms. Please reach out to Karl Mundorff ([email protected]) for additional information.

 

* OSU will monitor the use of funds and identify sources of income accruing to OSU that are traceable to a UVDF allocation, including as examples: royalties, milestone and license fee payments, and cash from the sale of equity. After additional outside expenses are recaptured, OSU will transfer twenty percent (20%) of such income to the general fund of the State of Oregon (“General Fund”).